Smalma
Kokanee Forum Angler

About half way across I decided to call it a day and broke my gear from the downriggers and put things away. After putting the first rod away I turned around and the other rod was buried. Got that fish and put it back out and before I had the second rod out of the locker I had another.

I thought maybe there was going to be a surface bite but fished another 1/2 without a bite and called it a day.

A buddy fished this morning and had a bite similr to your early morning flurry and was about to scratch out his other 5 between 9 and 10 - none on the surface, mostly between 5 and 12 feet down. Confirms what I was thinking that things are ready to pop just need the weather gods to cooperate

Of course it helps that I had scoutted out things for him. After the pre -7:00 am bite I have had my most consistent fishing with hoochies.

Should do well tomorrow.
Curt

Curt
I didn't have another bite after we last
Talked on the lake. I did talk to a guy who said there was a bite mid lake in front of Wyatt about 10:00. I saw you fished your way to the other side and wondered if you had any more before calling it. I'm volunteering at the Arboretum plant sale today but plan to hit it on Suday as it may be the best of the next few days weather wise. If I dont see you out there I'll send you a quick report.
Jim

Curt
WYou're quite welcome, glad to hear you nailed some Springers. My fish varied in size from 11 to 14 inches. A couple of them fought extremely well. I did hook into a very large rainbow....one of WDFWs surogates of about 4lbs. Any way a good time on the lake...lots of pressure for this time of year...too much derby hype...I'm thinking.
Tight lines,
Jim

Jim -
Thanks for the report.

Mid-week I hit the Columbia for springers - limits both days. smoked some yesterday and worked a DU table at Cabelas today. Hope to get out to Stevens a couple times this week. Based on the the past should be getting close to the time of more or less automatic limits.

So far the few I have caught have been in that 12-13 inch range.

Maybe I'll see you at the end of the week.

Curt

Curt,
I fished on Sunday. Warm, rain showers and fish on the surFace when the rain wasn't. I hooked 12 and kept 5. Some short strikes and action on chartreuse early. All early strikes on the surface. Later when the sun was higher on the water flousecent orange was the ticket from 10 and later at 20 ft. Only a few catching fish. By 10AM the jet skies and ski boats. We're in the majority and I headed home to put in more veggies.
Good luck if you get out this week. I won't be out until at least Thursday.

Cheers
Jim

Curt
I did notice midges hatching late morning/noon on Friday. Nothing like I'm used to on Samammish in Jan/Feb but more than I have noticed prior. Thursday or Friday next will be my next opportunity. Weather will have a say for sure. Good luck if you get out!
Cheers,
Jim

Jim -
Still fishing for a bite or two a trip. Temperatures are consistently in the low 50s all the way down to 30 feet or so.

I'm coming to believe the decent fishing is produced by having "feed" in the lake. I believe that it will be another week or so before we see more consistent fishing.

The last couple trips there hasn't been any chronomids hatching either. Earlier in the spring a good hatch would trigger a short bite.

Have been watching American. for years I traded notes with an American Lake regular and it typically came on week or two before Stevens.

Curt

Thanks for the reply. I fished again on 4/13. Water temp was 49 at 8am and I saw 52.5 just before noon. A few fish jumping prior to the wind kicking up. On cutt to the boat and nothing after that. Tried the surface all the way to 30 - 40 ft. Nada. The bloom is beginning and I saw a couple of bunches of small shrimp/daphnia at the surface around the boat ramp.....Wyatt. Should be some opportunity later this week hopefully. Maybe I'll see you out there.
Jim

Fished this afternoon -1 fish - only bite.

Surface temp got up to 49 but it was 43 degrees at 10 feet.

Saw the start of an algae bloom so maybe things will kick off in a couple weeks (maybe sooner if there are more sunny days - fat chance).

So far the average fish seems to be a little larger than last year but it wll be May before we know.

Curt

Curt
Well I couldn't resist. Hit Stevens in a buddies boat on Friday. Didn't launch until around 9:30 and trolled until 1:00 or so when his kicker wouldn't idle any longer. We had one fish on for a few seconds and that was that. About 4or5 others trolling with one boat having caught one. Surface temps were 46 to 47. We did see several schools of fish pretty much all over the water column. We attempted jigging after the kicker conked but no takers. Hopefully the next couple of days will get things moving.
Good luck if you get out. Jim